The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-12-01

dinately stout and over.dressed wom-
an who had just passed on the arm
Of q prominent native parsonage.
my husband especially. He expects
Ii all goes well with him-to occupy
some politically important position
before long. He has made himself felt
in politics here already"
Franks eyes wandered over the
room to where the man whom he had
known as De la Croix still stood talk
ing to the handsome woman in yellow.
The intervening years since that night
on the North Atlantic coast VIXEN
Pendleton had last seen him at the
cottage OF the man whose hospitality
he had repaid by stealing his daughter
from him Ind passed over the aqulline
face, the slight, erect form, without
leaving a trace behind them. From
the first time Frank Pendleton had
seen the Franco Spaniard he had hat.
ed him. He now saw him bow pro.
foundry to the lady in yellow, and aft
er glancing around the room fix his
eyes on the spot where he, Frank
Pendleton, sat beside his vile. I'm
mediately afterward he elowly ap-
preached Gwendolen remained mo-
tionless.
When De Ia Croix stood before
them.
"Do you remember Mr. sndleton'"
she said. 4E
The two men exchanged q sharp
glance of mutual scrutiny. and some
thing whichdid duty for a:nod.
Gwendolen rose.
care you coming to, see me?"" she
demanded, extending her hand.
E Neither by glance or word did the
man.beside her second the invitation.
Eyes" said Frank Pendletou, after
an imperceptible pause.
every one will tell you where we
live" She bowed to him slightly,
with the same majestic grace OF the
Gwendolen Ker OF other days. and
took her husbands arm.
A moment later Frank found, at his
elboW the naval officer who had in
duced him to come to the ball.
"You know the Armands2"
Frank said nothing for a moment.
Finally -
II knew the man himself when he
went by the name of De la Croix."
The officer elevated his eyebrow s.
"Ahl I dare say" He smiled. ut
is Armand now. Some other time it
may be anything else"
"Do you think the man IN adven-
turer?" There was emphasis on the
Epronoun.
"My dear fellow, let me answer
your question by another one. Have
you any doubt Of it?"
Frank groaned inwardly.
"Just at present he is in power
here. Men of that stamp, with brains,
daring and no scruples, find unique
opportunities in these countries,
How long it will last is anoth.
er matter. He has one great
source of strength" The officer
smiled again.. "He is protected by
feminine influence. Did you observe
the superbly handsome woman in vel.
low? She is very closely connected
with one OF the. highest officials Of the
republic. However, she does not com.
pare with that beautiful high-bred
creature whom they call Madame Ar
mand. They say she ran away with
him. Good Lord! what fools women
arel"s
Frank turned away. He had heard
enough.
One morning Frank Pendleton,
awakening, formed a determination
to go home that day. The business
which had called him to South Ameri.
ca had been concluded some weeks.
He had tried to blind himself to the
interest which, notwithstanding that
fact, kept him from returning. This
morning he had faced it..
II have nc business to stay here"
he said to himself. IF ] could be of
any service to her 1t would be differ.
ent "
He rang for his bill and began
throwing the contents of his drawers
into q portmanteau.
Aknock interrupted him. Anote
was handed to him.
His heart leaped into his throat as
his eyes ran over the lines.
Aquarter OF an hour later he was
standing in Gwendolen'ss presence.
"Gwendolen, "he cried, horror-strick-
en- at the change he saw in her. 1t
was hike the wrath of q familiar face.
She motioned him away. It. was q
moment before she spoke. Then her
voice had q harsh, unnatural sound.
Frank could not bear it.. He buried
his face in his hands before this awful
wreck.
Eyes, he has left me" she said, in a
dry-eyed mechanical way. "You see,
that is what / think Of f~irst-Ahats he
left me. To. the world the great fact
is that he has been detected In q for
gerry, and that he only fed in-time to
escape imprisonment. Butt would
not have cared for that. I gave up
everything for his sake. I would toll
low him to the worlds end If
he were q murderer. But ! suppose
he had tired Of me. Supposed" She
gave al unutterably dreary shadow of
laugh. Don't believe me when I
talk SO. / knew he had grown tired
Of me-. have known it months
monthsl' There was q sudden fierce
ness IN her eyes. It died out immedi.
ately. "Why waste words?" she went
on in her same dry. dull, automatic
tone. II loved him-loved him.. I
love him at this moment, though he
has left me, though l have grown less
to him than q old shoe. It's curious,
too, Is it not?" she said with a mus
ing change of manner. II used to be
thought q woman Whocouldk keep any
mans love. Idon't know whether /
ever thought ! could always keep his
II don't know. Perhaps ! always
doubted him in the depth of my soul.
But what mattered that? II I had
been certain then Of what I learned
only afterward / would have gone
with him just the same. Is was my
tate, you see. Some women are made
that way" Her eyes wander